Customer&#39;s liquefied petroleum gas transportation, storage, and utilization equipment



July 21, 1936. P. s. ENDAcoT'r 2,047,953

CUSTOMER'S LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS TRANSPORTATION, STORAGE, AND UTILIZTION EQUIPMENT Filed July 1e, 1934 s sheets-sheet 1 8 A24) col /7a\ ya 5/ /7 n 66' 524 V67 55 54 724 7/\ /54 INVENToR.

3 9 Paul Emdacn July 21, P. s. ENDAcoTT A 2,047,953

'CUSTOMER'S LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS TRANSPORTATION, STORAGE, AND UTILZATION EQUIPMENT Filed July 16, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2V FIG. 5.

j "70 85 NVENTOR. Paul 5. Endam( JulyA 2l, 1936.

P. S. ENDACOTT CUSTOMERS LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS TRANSPORTATION, STORAGE, AND UTILIZATION EQUIPMENT Filed July 16, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 17.

/26 i 36kg 04 IN V EN TOR.

Paul El. Endacn ATTORNEYS.

July 21, 1936. P. s. ENDAcoT'r 2,047,953

` CUSTOMER S LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS TRANSPORTATI'ON,

STORAGE, AND UTILIZATION EQUIPMENT Filed July 16, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

Patented July 21,` 1936 UNITED STATES VPATENT oFFlcE l CUSTOMEBS LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS TRANSPORTATION, STORAGE, AND UI'I- LIZYATION EQ raul s. enema, mamme, our., assigner-to Phillips -Petroleum Company, Bartlesville, Okla., a corporation o! Delaware application .my 1s, 1934, serial No. 135,541

1l (Cl. 22h-73.5)

This invention relates to equipment for the transportation, storage and utilization ot liquened, petroleumI gas, and more particularly to equipment well adapted for use by the consumer o1' propane and similar petroleum products usedfor heating, lighting and cooking purposes in and about the home, store, factory. etc.

The present invention embodies improvements in and additions to the equipment shown in Patents 1,'976,719 and 1,977,268, granted October 16, 1934; 1,994,337 and V1,994,338 granted March 12,

'1935; 2,009,768 'granted Ju1y30, 1935 and in c0- pending application for United States patent flied by me May 8, 1933, Serial Number 670,046.

One of the mainobjects o! theA present invention' is to provide equipment for use by the consumer of liqueied petroleum gas whereby the operations incident to transportation and utilization of the product are simplified, and numerous safeguards against accidents and injury to body and equipment are embodied in the equipment.

Another object of the invention is to provide storage and utilization equipment for liqueed petroleum gas where a single cabinet for each installation compactly houses atank'containing one or more -supplies of liqueed gas as well as mecharso nism for raising the tank oil.' the oor or me ofv the cabinet; a scale for weighing the tank contents; a pressure reducingv regulator for control of the fuel `so that it'may be'changed from a high pressure liquid `or` vapor phase to a low pressure gaseous phase before leaving the cabinet: and,

other devicesiand accessories incident to .or desirable as a part of such equipment. The invention provides a compact arrangement in the cabinet of the tank, means for manually coupling and uncoupling the tank'with respect to the pressure reducing regulator so that the hands ci the operator may be used in this operation without fatigue, and foot operated mechanism for quickly raising and lowering the scale, regulator and tank simultaneously so that a permn may perform these operations while facing the equipment, without expending any great amount of energy, and so that even a comparatively trail person may attend to such transactions as are ordinarily necessary in self-service equipment. Y 1

Other objects of the invention are to provide the combination of' a tank, a pressure reducing regulator, a scale and load lifting and lowering mechanism which is compact, comprises but few parts, prevents undeslrablemovement of parts one with respect to another, and permits weighing of the tank contents without shutting oi! the Supply of gas to the gas consuming appliances associated with the equipment; to provide an improvedanti-friction telescopic scale beam arrangement and. to provide an improved mechanism which causes the load to move in a predeter- 5 mined path while being raised and lowered thereby preventing many destructive forces acting upon bearings oi the scale and parts associated with the pressure reducing regulator.

Another object of the invention is to provide 10 an improved control unit including valves and a guardcap associated therewith for a tank partitioned to contain a main or major supply of liqueed gas and a reserve or minor supply of liquefied gas, the assembly being such as to facili- 15 tate operation of the valves of the control unit and to discourage tampering with parts of the control units provided to facilitate lling of the tank and to relieve excess pressure in the chambers 0f the tank.d 20

A further object of the invention is to provide a more compact arrangement of manually operable and automatic valves associated with the tank than is shown in` the aforesaid Patent 1,977,268 so that lesssurface area on the head qof the tank need be encompassed by a shield or cap for same and so that they may be oset as a mass considerably more to one side of the axis oi the tank than to the other side of said axis whereby to provide ample hand room for the manipulation of a wrench or other device closely adjacent and above the tank for connection of the tank to the pressure reducing regulator. This is of importance, keeping in mind that it is desir- Y weighing and conditioning the contents ofthe tank `for use in gas consuming appliances, which is strong and sturdy, of pleasing appearance, and which has plates or screen walls serving the dual function oi' strengthening the side and back wallsv of the carbinet and discouraging tampering with parts which ordinarily require no attention on the part of the consumer. Y

A still further object of the invention is to provide improved equipment for dtachably connecting the tank to the running board or similar portion of an automobile so that un empty or partially empty tank may be returned to the service station and a iilled tank may be transported with comparative safety from a service station to the location where the liqueiied gas is to be used.

Other objects and advantagesl of the invention will appear in the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisl specification -which when in place serves to brace the side and rear walls of the i cabinet, 'prevents 'tampering with parts in the upper portion of the cabinet and limits swinging movement of the tank.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view on substantially the line 4-4 of Figure'l.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of the upper portion of the cabinet, provided with an opening for a scale beam. l

Figures 6 and '1 are sectional views on the lines 8 6 and 1-1,vrespectively, of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 8-8 ofFigure l.

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view on the line 9-8 of Figure 10.

Figure 10 is a plan viewof the control assembly shown in Figure 9, with the cap fshown in horizontal section.

Figure 11 is a. detailed view in elevation of means for raising and lowering the tank and associated'parts.

Figure 12 is an enlarged detail view in elevation of a scale forming a part of the equipment.

Figure 13 is-a plan view vof parts shown in Figure 12. 1

Figure 1 4 is an endY elevation ofthe scale. a

portion ci the beam being shown in s ectlmi to disclose details.

Figure l5 is an enlarged detailed view on the line IS-II of Figure`12.

Flgure'lo is an enlarged vertical sectional.` view on the line Ii--IB of Figure 13.'

Figure 17 is a side elevation of a pressure reducing reguiatona portion thereof beingbroken away and shown in section to disclose the association ofthe regulator with the scale.

Figure 1s is a view m elevation of a' tank' equipped with means for fastening same` to the vrunning board of an automobile.

Figure 191s a similar view showing the tank securedtothe runningboard.

Y ligure 20 is an enlarged' sectional view` on. the

^ line 29-20 of Figure 19. 'Flgure'21 is aview in vertical section through a toggle bolt and associated parts used in fastening the tank to the running bond.

Figure 22 isabottom plan view of an eyelet forming a part of the nmning board equipment.

In the drawings, where like reference characters designate Alike or corresponding parts throughout the views, A is a rigid support, such as the wall of abuilding; B a cabinet which may besecuredtosupport A; Catankforhighpressure liquefied petroleumgas, such as propane: D means for controlling the passage of liquid,

vvapor or gas from thetank C; E a consumers conduit line for low pressure saslwhich may 4ter Il slidable in horizontal guides I2, the shutlead to any suitable gas consuming appliances. not shown in the drawings; F means for conducting fuel from tank C to line E at a reduced low pressure as compared with the vapor pressure in the tank; G a guard or cap for means D; 5 H a scale; J means for raising Vand lowering the tank C, means D and F, and scale E; K a vehicle rm such as the running board thereof; L fastening devices for detachably securing the tank C to the vehicle body A; and M and N means 1o for` holding the parts of fastening devices L in snug relationto the tank when not in use.

Referring iirst to the cabinet B, it comprises a body 23 including a bottom wall 24, side walls 25 and 26, a rear wall 21 and a top wall or cap 28; a door 29 for closing the open front of the body 23; a vertical screen wall or plate 30; and a. horizontal screen wall or plate 3|. The cabinet is elongated in shape and placed` in an upright position. It is preferably of substantially trun- 20 cated pyramidal shape, and may rest upon a base 432 of concrete or other suitable material. It is 31 of section 33. The web 31 maybe welded or otherwise secured to rear wall 21 and the flanges 38 of section 33 project outwardly from the rear wall for engagement with the support A, as

shown in Figure 4.

The bottom wall 24 rriayA beproviied with downturned flanges 39, welded or otherwise se- 'cured to the walls 25, 26 and 21. The side wall 26 is provided with aI scale beam opening All near its upper margin, which may be closed by a shutter being provided with a handle I3. Each side wall mayalso be provided with an opening Il through either of which the consumers `conduit` line E may pass. The openings Il are located near the rear margins of the walls. While the top wall or cap 23 may be integral with the side and rear walls, itis preferrdto Vmake it a separate piece which maybe secured to these walls by suitable fasteners l5, such as nuts and bolts. Thus the'tp wall or cap may be a casting or formed of sheet metal rendered sutilciently strong and-sturdy so as to permit suspending the tank C,scaleHandmeansFfrcmthetopwallor. capasshowninFigureslandi. Deormay 55 behinged asat to wall25,fand maybeprovided with top and bottom vent openings l1 and llwithwhich arel associated louvers I3. Adjacent "side wall 23, the screen wall-or plate 3|! isprovidedwithasightnpeningl throushwhich so portions of the scale H maybe viewed, as shown Figure. Screen wall or plate 3l is provided with-a slot il elongated in shape with itsaxis transversely of the'plate, cpen'to the rear mar- Agill thereofasat 52 andclo'sedast 53 al1-'65 jacent the forward margin of the plate. Adjacent one end of the plate a perforation 3l is provided to accommodate' one of the parts of means J. These screen walls or plates 3l and 3| may be securedto the cabinet body in any suitableo manner. In the exampleshown' wall 3l ispro- -vided with a horizontal flange 5I at its'upper poi-tio .secluedtotopwaliorcapldasbyfastenets I3 and at its lower margin may be profv'lded with en inturned ange il to engagebe- 75 2.04am Y neath 8|.

The latter is provided with a downturned jrearvflange 68 and downtumed side ilanges '59v which may be secured to the rear wall 21,and Vside walls 25 and 28, by fasteners 60. The fastenersA 56 and 60 may be nuts and bolts which permit removal of these screen walls or plates if repairs, replacement of parts or adjustments are necessary. It will be noted that the walls and 8| brace the upper portion of the cabinet: by extending from side wall to side wall andbeing secured to the -rear .and top walls.

, They also form with the side walls, rear wall and top wall, a compartment 6| in the upper portion of the cabinet which is openv laterally of the cabinet. body `at-theescale beam opening 40. The

guidesr42 have longitudinal flanges 62, lwelded orv otherwise securedto wall 26 adjacent the upper andlower margins of opening 40. Each guide may beprovided with an inturned portion 63 at its end`to limit sliding movement of the shutter-M when the latter is in either open, or closed relation tothe opening 40.

The tank'SCis very much like that disclosed in my aforesaid application, Serial Number 670,046, in that -it is elongated in shape and when in use' for supply of gas to the consumers conduit line E, .is normally upright. It comprises a cylindrical body portion 64, a bottom wall-65, a top wallii,A` and a partition 61 near the top wall providing'a major compartment or chamber 68 and a, minor compartment or chamber69 for liqueiied petroleum gas. The top wall 66 is provided with collars 10 and 1|, welded or otherwise secured to the tank top, and internally screw threaded to receive parts of the control means D. The bore of collar 10 has communication with chamber,` 68 through pipe 12. A foot ring 13 may be provided on the lower or bottom wall 65,the ring having a slot 14 as shown in' Figure 20. Collar 10 and pipe 12 may be co-axial with body. portion 64, while collar 1|, the bore of which has communication with minor chamber 69, is oset laterally with respect' to collar 10,

Y but with the" axes of these collars parallel.

Inorder that either or both chambers 68and .69 may be selectively drawn upon by the consumer, and the tank relieved of excess pressure, means D is provided. It may comprise the same `unitsdisclosed in the aforesaid Patent 1,977,268, which are, however, arranged differently in the present case, so that less surface area on the head of the tankA need be' encompassed by the shield or cap G. and so that theyV may be off- Y set as a mass 'considerably more to one side of the axis of the tank than to the other side of 'Y said axis, whereby to provide ample hand room for manipulation of a wrench 15, or other suitable. device closely adjacent and above the tank,

forming a part of the'means F, as hereinafter described. Referring moreparticularly to Figfures 9 and 10, means D comprises manually operable valves 16 and 11 mounted upon the tank by couplings 18 and 19 having screw threaded engagement with the collars 10 and 1l, respectively; safety valves 80 and 8| carried by valves 16 Vand 11, respectively; an outlet coupling 82 mounted upon valve 16; a conduit 83 affording communication ybetween the outlets of valves 16 and 11, whereby the outlet coupling 82 serves both valves 16 and 11 and a vent plug 84 clos- |05 ing the openingpf a dip tube 85, `provided so as toprevent complete filling ofthe minor chamber or compartment 69. Each of the valves 16 and 11 is provided with a bonnet 86 in which is movable an operating stem 81 and which, in the example shown, may be rotated by use of a suitable wrench. not shown in the drawings. These valves 16 and 11 are mounted next adjacent one another and the tank, with the'valve stems horizontal and the bonnets pointing laterally in the 5 same general direction, as shown in Figure 10. The safety valve 80 is carried-by valve 16 and extends laterally, diagonally and upwardly therefrom into a space above the plane of conduit 88. The safety valve 8| is mounted vertically upon valve 11. 'I'he axis of plug 84 is at a right angle to the axis of stem 81 of valve 11. For details of these various units, reference may be had to the aforesaid Patent 1,977,268. It will be noted,- however, that the present arrangement locates substantially opposite to the direction in which the valve stems 81 point thereby utilizing space above the conduit 83 and, all inall, arranging the units very compactly.

'I'he consumers conduit line E includes -a pipe 86'- which may be rigidly secured in the compartment 6| of the cabinet, to the rear wall 21, by brackets 61', which space is a suitable distance from the wall 21 so as to permit placing 25 and removal of a cap 88 which may be placed cn either end of the pipe 86', and a lmion 89 which joins a pipe 90 to the uncapped end of pipe 86'. Pipe 90 leads through the opening 40 in side wall 26 and to the gas consuming ap- 30 pliances not shown in the drawings. An outlet pressure relief valve 9| may be provided in compartment 6|, connected to pipe 86' by a goose neck 92.

Fluid from the outlet coupling 82'ilnds its way 35 to the line E through means F which will now be described. It includes a. pressure reducing regulator 93 which, through a pipe 94 coupled to the high pressure inlet of the regulator by union 95. and to the tank C by a coupling 96, companion to outlet coupling 82, forms a suitable suspension device between the scale H and tank 9 C. The coupling 96 includes a wrench head 91 which receives the aforesaid wrench 15. The low pressure outlet of regulator 93 has communication with pipe 86', through exible conduit 98, it being connected to the regulator by union 99, and to a nipple |00 of pipe 86 by a union 0|. The pipe 9 4 extends through the slot 5| in screen plate 3| near the closed end 53 thereof sc that the plate 3| limits outward swinging movement of the tank in the cabinet, by the pipe 94 contacting the plate at the end 53 of the slot. Lateral movement of the tank toward either wall 25 or 26 is likewise limited by Vcontact of pipe 94 with the plate at either side of the slot. Rearward movement of the tank C is limited by contacting the rear wall 21 of the cabinet. The regulator 93 has preferably cast integral with its front cover plate |02, a clevis-like portion |03, including lu'gs |04 and |05, spaced apart to provide a. mouth |06 which opens upwardlyto receive a portion of scale H as hereinafter described. Lug |04 is provided with a recess |01 open to mouth |06 and lug |05 has a bore |08 axially aligned with recess |01. The bore |08 and recess |01 receive a pivot pin |09 extending' across mouth |06, and held against rotation by a transverse pin 0 carried by lug Tov discourage tampering with control means D, a guard or cap G is provided. It preferably comprises an inverted cup-like body including an annular side wall and a top I2, and is held to the dome-shaped top wall 66 of tank C by a 75 mounted eccentric to the vertical axis of tank C so as to provide an unobstructed space ||1 on the top wall and so as to give ample hand room for manipulation of wrench 15. The lower margin of wall I I is made to conform to and contact drainage opening ||8 at that portion remote from the longitudinal axis of the tank which is lowermost and assures complete drainage of liquid which may nd its way into the cap or products of condensation in the cap which may flow downwardly onto the tank top. The side wall is'prvided with openings ||9 and |20 at its front through which access may be had to the valve stems 81 ci valves 16 and 11, respectively: There is also provided an opening |2| in the with the dome-shaped top wall 66, except for a side portion of wall through which access' may be hadto the vent plug 84. The top ||2 is provided with an opening |22 through which the coupling 96 may extend in order to connect the tank to means Il'.A

By reference to Figure 1 it may be observed that when the tank C is properly located in the Acabinet B,.th'e opening |2| is closest to wall 25 so that a .person is not apt to tamper with the vious from an insepction of Figure 16. The scale is suspended from a vertical hanger |48 including a horizontal stop bar' |49 above the sleevelike section and depending arms |50 which embrace said section and havepivotal connection with the pivot |31. In Figure l'the stem section of the scale is shown extending through the opening 40 in wall 26, so as to expose the poise |29 to view exteriorly of the cabinet where it may ac't as a signal, by moving downwardly as the liqueed petroleum gas in tank C is used and hence the load 'on the scale becomes lighter in weight. The stop bar |49 limits the amplitude 20 of oscillation of sleeve section |25 on the hanger |48. It is to be noted also that the stem sections may be moved to a position entirely in compartment 6|, at which time the shutter 4| may be .2r J

closed.

In order that the scale, tank and connection between the two may' be quickly and conveniently raised and lowered, the means J is provided. It diiers from the mechanism shown in-the aforesaid Patent 2,009,768, in that the operator is not 30 vent plug 84, yet the valve stems 81 of the control valves 16 and. 11 are readily accessible through openings ||9 and |20. In Figure 1, the wrench 15 is closely adjacent the bottom screen plate 3|, but the tank is there shown suspended. When it is let down to rest upon the bottom 'wall 24 of the cabinet there is ample hand room above the area |S|1 of top wall 66 and below the bottom `screen plate 3| for manipulation of the wrench to couple or uncouple a tank with respect to the pressure regulator and associated parts.

Thescale H is very much like that disclosed in the aforesaid Patent 2,009,768, in that it` includes a scale beam |23 including a stem section |24 i ad a sleeve-like'section |25 embracing section |24, providing a slideway |26 for receiving the stem section, so that the latter may be moved to extend entirely through theA sleevelike.section |25 or have merely its inner end portion in the slideway as shown in Figure 12. The stem section is provided with graduations and other indicia |21 thereon, which may be viewed through a slot or sight opening |28 of section |25. It is also provided with a counterweight or poise |29 at its end remote from section |25. An indicator |30 is addustably carried by section |25 as by set screw |3| having screw threaded lengagement in bore..|32 insection |25,v tlie'v shank |33 of theV screw extending through an elongated slot |34 in the back plate |35 of the indicator. Sleeve section |25 also has a depending web |36 extend--` ing longitudinally of the lowerportion thereof y provided/with suspension pivot |31 and an opening |38 yreceiving the aforesaid pin |09. The improved scale beam |23 is provided with anti' friction bearings |39 and |40 at the mouth |4| "of slideway |26 and an anti-friction bearing |42 remote from its mouth for engagement with the edges of stem section |24. The bearings |39 and |40 may be projections cast or formed as a part of the section |24, provided with arcuate faces |43 and l|44, respectively, having line contact with the top and bottom edges |45 and |48, respectively, of the stem section. The bearing |42 required to reach into the upper part of the cabinet but may, while facing the screen plate 30, operate the mechanism with the right foot. It preferably comprises a parallelogram mechanism |5| a foot lever |52, a link |53 between the lever |52 and mechanism |5|qto operate the latter by movement of the former, and a catch device |54 associated with the-lever |52. 'Ihemechanism |5I preferably includes spaced vertical arms |55 secured to the cabinet top 28 as by attaching plate |56 and bolts |51, a lever |58-pi voted intermed'ate its ends as at |59 to the lower end portion of arms |55, spaced vertical arms |60 of hanger |48 pivoted intermediate their. ends, as at |6|, to one end portion |62 of lever |58, and a link |63 parallel to lever |58, pivotallvconnected as at |64 to the upper end portion of arms |6|, and to vertical arms |55 as at |65. The foot leveri |52 may be pivoted, as at |66, to a bracket-|61, secured to the rear wall 21 of the cabinet. Remote from pivot ,168, the link |53 is -pivoted;to -theleven as at |68 and it extends verticallyhthrii; perforation |14 beneath which thefootjlevenmay'come to rest when 'the tank is either raised or lowered. 60

The pivotal connection footA lever |52 and bracket |61 is sufilciently looseto permit the foot leverbeing moved laterally, so esto disengage it from a position beneath lug |14 -thereby permitting the tank and associated parts to be lowered, the foot lever |52 engaging beneath lug |13 to limit the downward movement'foftherscale and regulator. It is to be observedthat the parallelogriiml |5| supports thescale in a 'manner that it is'not likely tob'e injured even 70 tho the extended stem andV poise |29 be subjected to considerable windforcef By making the cabinet of trlm'cated-pyramidal shape, there is ample room in the cabinet at lowerl portion thereof, for the foot lever- 52'and. the catch de- 75 from an inspection of Figure 8.

When the lledtank is to be transported from the servicev station to the equipment, or an emptyV tank is to be taken to the service station in order to replenish the supply of liquefied petroleum gas at the consumers premises, the tank may be conveniently carried on the running board K of a mo-- tor vehicle with the advantages as more fully set out in the aforesaid application, Serial Number 683,091. By operation of foot lever |52 the tank C may be lowered so that it rests upon the bottom wall 24 'of the cabinet. 'I'he tank may then be disconnected from the pressure regulator 83 and associated parts by manipulation of wrench 15 which, thru wrench head 91 disconnects coupling member 96 from outlet coupling 82. The coupling 96 and wrench 15 may be lifted by again operating foot lever |52 so that it rests beneath lug |14. The tank C may then be rolled or carried to the vehicle for transportation purposes. Since in practice the consumer usesthe family automobile for transportation of the tanks, little effort is required to lift the tank'so that it rests longitudinally upon the running board. i

The fastening devices L each preferably comprise a part |15 lcarried'by the tank and a companion part |16 carried by the running board. At the service station, holes |11 may be drilled thru the running board open to the top and bottom thereof, these holes being spaced apart longitudinally of the running board a distance approximately the length of the tank. Thru each hole |11 the hollow cylindrical body portion |18 of an eyelet |19 may beplaced, the ange |80 of the eyelet engaging the top surface of the running board. A nut |8| may have screw threaded engagement with the lower end portion ofbody |18 to secure the eyelet in place, a lock washer |82 being .preferably interposed between the nut and the lower face of the running board. VIt is also preferred to provide notches |83 open to the lower margin of body |18 for a purpose to be subsequently set forth. The body portion |18 may be made sufficiently long that it may extend thru holes drilled in running boards of different thicknesses. It is to be understood, however, that this part |16 'carried by the running board may be dispensed with. Its function is to give a neat nish to the altered running board, and to facilitate securing. of the tank to the running board for transportation purposes, but is not essential to successful operation of the part |15, which will now be described. In order to keep the tank from rolling crosswise of the running board it is preferred to make the body |84 of each-part |15 of substantially U-shape, comprising arms |85 and ifi |86, and a. bight portion |81 connecting the arms,

and to pivot the latterps by pins |88 and |89' to lugs |90 and |9|, respectively, the latter beingl welded or otherwise secured to the tank end in a manner that the body |84 may be swung to project outwardly from the tank as shown in Figures 19 and 20, or folded as shown in Figure 18. The bight portion |88 is preferably formed with two aligned flat portions |92 and a looped intermediate portion |93, provided with a perforation |94, which latter receives the shank |95 of a toggle bolt |96. The pivots |88 and |89 are so arranged that when the bodies |84 are swung to extend out'- wardly from the tank, the bight portions |81 are in a. plane tangential to the circumferential periphery of the tank, as shown in Figure 20, so that the at portions |92 have surface contact with the running board and effectively prevent the tank vfrom rolling crosswise of the :nmning f board. If desired, a stop |91 may be associated with each arm |86 to limit swinging movement ofthe body |84, in -one direction,-when it is in a plane crosswise the axis of the tank. The toggle 5 bolt |86 is provided with a toggle |98, pivoted as at |99 to the lower portion of the bolt, and a wing nut 200 may have screw threaded engagement with shank |95 for the purpose of drawing the -toggle |98 into rm engagement with the lower 10 portion of the eyelet and for clamping body |84 to the running board asshown more clearly in Figure 21. The toggle |98 may be received in the notches |83 of the eyelet so as to prevent circumferential movement ofthe shank |95, as nut 200 15 is being turned tight. 'I'he nut 200 engages the looped portion |93 as shown in Figure 20. The upper end of shank |95 may be riveted over as indicated at 20| so as to prevent disconnection of the toggle bolt from the body |84.

Sinceit is undesirable to have the fastener part |15 free to swing when the tank is not mounted on the running board, the device M is provided at the bottom end of the tank for cooperation with the toggle bolt to prevent swinging move- 25 ment. This device may comprise a bifurcated lug -20? having arms 204, with a slot 205 therebetween, the slot accommodating the shank |95, and the toggle |98 engaging the arms 204 with intimate contact as the nut 200 is rotated. As may be observed from Figure 20, the body |84 may be swung to a position extending thru slot 14 Aof foot ring 13.

The device N, disclosed more in detail in Figures 9 and 10 may be used to hold the other fastener part |15 in close relation to the cap G. It may comprise a shank 206 extending thru a perforation 201 in the cap, and provided at its outer end portion with a cross bar 208 having right angularl-y disposed lugs 209; a nut 2|0 on 40 the other portion of shank 206; a coil spring 2|| inside the cap engaging the wall thereof; i and a washer 2|2 interposed between the spring 2|| and nut 2I0. One portion of the cross bar 288 may be grasped in order to compress the spring 2| I, while the other portion of the cross bar and its lugs 209 may engage fastener part |15 to hold it firmly against the cap G, as shown in Figure 18.

No great amount of eiort or ingenuity is required on the part of the person when arranging the tank on the running board and securing same thereto. It is a simple matter to swing the fastener parts |15 to a position where the shank |95 of the toggle bolt |96 extends thru the eyelet of the running board, for of course the toggle |98 may be swung to a position where it extends longitudinally of the shank when placing same. After the toggle |98-is below the eyeletso that the upper end of the toggle clears the body portion |18, a, little vibration of the toggle bolt will cause the toggle to swing to a position crosswise the axis of shank |95 and slight rotation of the shank will cause the toggle to engage in notches |83. Thereupon the wing nut 200 may be turned tight. When both fastening devices are in proper operative relation to the running board, the tank is firmly supported on the running board against both longitudinal and transverse movement.

After connecting the tank to the dispensing 70 equipment on the consumers premises, the scale may be brought into use to verify any claim that a lled tank has been furnished, since the word Full on the stem portion of the scale beam may be observed thru the sight openings'50 and |28 75 and thescalebeamwillbalancewhentheindb,

cater no paints to the wcrd 1r such is a.

fact. After such weighing operation, the operator may move the stem section of the scale beam so' that Athe indicator points to auch indicia vori the stem section as desired, such as one repre-l senting "Empty thus adapting the scale for signalling purposes.' For instance, if so set, the poise |29 will descend when the maior simply of liquefled petroleum gas in the tank C is depleted., If

it is not desired to use the scale beam as a signal device, it may be adjusted so that the stem section is wholLv within theV cabinet, and the shutter Il may be moved to a closed position. There need be no interruption of ilow of low pressure gas to the gas consuming appliances during a weighing operation. A changeover from ythe maior to the minor or reserve supply may than the other; oilsetting-the control meansD and the cap G more to one side of the longitu dinal axis of the 'tank than to the other side thereof, vand various minor details have been specincally referred to in the foregoing specilication, it is to be understood that these may be varied withouty departing fromthe invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In customers storage and gas utiliza-tion equipment, the combination of a closed elongated upright tank providing a plurality of separate compartments for separate supplies of high pressure liquefied petroleum gas, a consumers service line for low pressure gas, a control means mounted upon the head of said tank including a separate valve for control of egress of iluid from each of said compartments, said control means oifsct on the tank head with respect to thelongitudinal axis of the tank, so that the major portion of the mass of said means isto one side of said axis thereof leaving' the portion of the tank head to the opposite side of said axis substantially free of accessories, and means for conducting fuel from the tank' to said service vlinie including a4 detachable coupling having an operating handle adjacent the head of the tank and movable in the space above the last mentioned portion of said tank head.

2. In customers storage and gas utilization equipment, the combination of a tank for high pressure liqueed petroleum gas, a consumers service line for low pressure gas, a pressure re ducing regulator provided with a devis-like portion having an upwardly 'opening mouth, means detachably coupling said regulator to .said tank so that they may be moved as a unit and so that iluid from the tank may enter the regulator, a ilexible conduit between the "outlet of said regulator and said service line, and means for raising and lowering the tank and regulator, `and including a' portion extending into the -mouth of said clevis-like portion and pivotally connected thereto. A

3. In customersstorage and gas utilization equipment, the combinationof a tank for high pressure liquefied petroleum gas, a consumers service line for low pressure gas, a pressure reducing regulator provided with a clevis-like por"- tion having .an upwardly opening mouth, a de tachable conduit coupling connecting said regulitter to said tank so that they may be moved asa ui'iitv and so that iiuid from the tank may enter the regulator, a exible conduit between 5 the outletof said regulator and said service line, and means for raising and lowering lthe tank and regulator. and including aportion extending into the mouth of said clevis-like portion and pivotally'connectcd thereto.

4. A liqueed gas tank comprising a body having a dome-shaped top wall and a bottom wall providing a chamber for liqueiied gas, control devices for ingress and egress of gas to' and from said chamber, mounted on said dome-shaped l5 top wall, and a protecting cap circular in plan, mounted on said dome-shaped top wall about said control devices and eccentric to the vertical ancey and partitioned to provide a. major compartment and a minor or reserve compartment for the lliquefied gas, disposed in said cabinet; manually ,operable valves mounted upon said tank for separate controlof the exit of iiuid from said compartments, said valves mounted with their stems pointing in the direction of said cabinet opening; a vent valve for s aid minor compartment mounted upon said tank and including an operating member pointing toward one of said sidewalls of said cabinet, 'and a cap mounted upon said tank provided with two lateral openings thruv which access may be had to said valve stems and a'third lateral opening facing said last mentioned side wall of the cabinet, thru which access may be had to said vent valve operating member.`

6. In dispensing equipment of the character described, the combination of a tank providing a major chamber and a minor 'chamber for liqueiicdl gas, and a control assembly mounted upon said tank, including, manually operable valves next adjacent one another and the tank for conoutlet coupling mounted vertically upon one of said manually operable valves with its`mouth opening upwardly, a safety valve carried by said last mentioned manually operable valve and extending laterally, diagonally and upwardly therefrom, said safety valve in operative communication with the chamber of the manually operable valvewhich carries it, and a conduit in a plane below the upper portion of said last mentioned safety valve and aiording communication between the outlets of said manually valves. whereby said outlet coupling serves both of said manually operable valves.

'1. In consumersHs 'rage and gas utilization 65 equipment, the combination of an elongated upright cabinet body, polygonal in crossl section land having an open front, an elongated upright tank having a chamber for high pressure liqueiled gas disposed with at least its upper portion in said cabinet body, means mounted on the upper'portion of said tank for control of the exit of uid from saif tank, a consumers conduit line for low 'pressure gas' extending into said. cabinet body, a pressure reducing regulator and.. scale in and superative `communication with said chamber and conduit line, and said scale including an indicator,

' and an upright screen wall in the cabinet body I extending crosswise in iront of said scale and regulator, secured to opposite walls of the cabinet to brace the same, and provided with a. sight opening thru which said scale indicator may be viewed.

8. in consumers storage and gas utilization equipment, the combination of an elongated up.- right cabinet body including opposite side walls, a wall and a top, said cabinet body being open at its iront, an elongated upright tank having a chamber for'high presure liqueed gas disposed with at least its upper portion in said cabinet body, means mounted on the upper portion of said tank for control of the exit of iiuid :from said tank, a consumers conduit line for low pressure gas extending intosaid cabinet body, a

' pressure reducing regulator'and a" scale in and supported by the upper portion,of the cabinet body connected to said tank, said rter having operative communication with said chamber and conduit line, and said scale including an indicator, an upright screen wall in the cabinet body in iront of said scale and regulator and provided with a Sight opening thru which said scale and-indicator may be viewed, and a horizontal screen wall in the cabinet bomv extending nger cabinet body including below said scaleand regulator and provided with an opening for the connection the tank and regulator, said Upright and horizontal screen l weils secured to the side walls of the cabinet body and said horizontal screen wall secured to said rontscreen wallandthebackwalltobracethe cabinet body.

` 9.1nconsumers storage and gasutilization equipment, the combination of an elongated upopposite side walls, a back wall, and an open front. an elongated uprighttankhavinga chamberforhighpressure liqueiied gas disposed with at least its upper portion in said cabinet born, means mounted on the upper portion of said tank for control of the exit of iiuid from said tank, a consumer-s conduit line for low pressure gas into said cabinet bouh', a presure e: v` in the upper portion of said cabinet bodyhighmessureconduit and a detachable coupling u said tank and the inlet of the a iiexihle low pres-v sure conduit between the conduit line and the outlet of the regulator, means for tly sup- `walloithecabinetbodytobraeethe screenwailbelowsaidandexibleconeporiingthe regulator andtank'mntheupper poronoithecabinegandascreen wallblystosaidcalnetbodyand sing forwardlyfrmnmemrwaumm theopenfmntthereofandfmmsidewalltoside same, said margin thereof to accommodate said high pressure conduit and limit outward swinging move- 5 ment of the tank and regulator.

10. In consumers storage and gas utilization equipment,'the combination of an elongated upright cabinet body including opposite side walls,

a back wall and a top wall, said cabinet body being 10 open at its front .and one of its side walls provided with a scale beam opening near its upper margin, an elongated upright tank Vfor high pres sure liquefied gas disposed with at least its upper l `portion in said cabinet body, a consumers conl5 duit line for low pressure, gas extending into said cabinet body, a pressure reducing regulator and a scale in the upper portion of said-cabinet body, said regulator having operative communication with said tank and conduit line; and said scale including a slidable beam movable to a position extending outwardly thru the said opening in said cabinet body wall and to another position, entirely in the cabinet body, means in the cabinet body for pendently supporting the scale, regulator and tank from the upper portion of the cabinet, an upright screen wall in the cabinet body extending in front of said scale and regulator, a horizontal screen wall in -the cabinet body below said scale and regulator, said screen wall secured to saidv cabinet body side walls and top and rear Walls to brace and form a compartment in the upper portion of the cabinet open laterally of the cabinet wall at said scale beam opening, and a shutter for said scale beam opening. Y

11. In customers storage and gas utilization equipment, the combination of an elongated upright. cabinet including side walls. a top and a bottom, an elongated upright tank for the fuel, oiset in the cabinet so as to be nearest one of the side walls, a, rigid service linev rigidly connected to and extending from the cabinet. means for conducting fuel from the tank tothe service line including a flexible conduit for conducting the fuel and permitting the tank to be raised and lowered without disrupting the flow of fuel to the service line, and means in the cabinet for raising and lowering said tank while in fuel conducting relation with said service line including mechanism supported by the cabinet near the top thereof movable toward and from the cabinet top and operatively connected tothe upper portion of the tank for simultaneous movement with said mechanism, a foot pedal adjacent the bottom of the cabinet, and a link betweenthe -foot pedal and mechanism extending longitudinally of thev cabinet adjacent the other of said side walls thereof whereby movement of the foot pedal is transmitted to said mechanism 'at the top of the cabinet.

' PAUL S. ENDAGO'IT. 

